When your work is your passion, you look forward to being a part of it every chance you get.

That best describes what Steve Techam feels about wrestling.

Steve's passion for wrestling began when he wrestled for National Wrestling Hall of Fame coach Paul Bengston at Hopkins High School in the 1960s.

After high school graduation, Steve attended the University of Minnesota where he took part in the intramural wrestling tournaments. Steve graduated from Bemidji State College in 1968 with a degree in social studies.

In 1969, Steve was hired by the Verndale School District to teach junior high social studies. There was not a wrestling program at Verndale, so Steve introduced the sport he loved. He remained the head coach of the Verndale until 1980, when the Pirates paired with the Bertha-Hewitt Bears. The new consolidated wrestling team became the Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale Raiders. Techam remained in that coaching position until his retirement from coaching in 2007. He returned to coach the Raiders for the 2013-2014 season, leading the team to the state wrestling tournament. He ended his career with an impressive record of 400-178-8.

Techam also served as a Section 6A representative to the Minnesota State High School League from 1990 to 2010. In 2000, Steve became the coordinator for the Section 6A wrestling tournament and remains in that position today. In his role as coordinator, he is responsible for hiring officials, answering questions, and taking suggestions to the section committee.

Steve has received many honors during his career, crediting them to the hard work of his assistant coaches and the young men and women who he coached. He was named Park Region Conference Coach of the Year in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2007. Steve was named section 6A Coach of the Year in 1999, 2000 and 2001. In 2001, Steve was named State Class A Coach of the Year and his team finished runner-up at the state tournament.

In 2002, Steve helped coach Minnesota high school wrestlers in the Minnesota vs. Wisconsin All-Star Wrestling Classic. Beginning in 2001, Steve also served as a chaperone for Minnesota wrestlers traveling to Virginia Beach for the National High School Coaches Association tournament.

Inducted into the Dave Bartelma-Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005, Steve states that his greatest honor was seeing the success of his wrestlers. Marshall Rach, Joeb Oyster, Casey Finck and Zach Lambert won state championships. Steve Carlson went on to become a junior college national champion while Jim Carlson, Bill Wagner, Joe Kern and Jake Oyster became head wrestling coaches.

The lasting relationships built between Techam and his wrestlers has been one of his greatest rewards.

Outside of wrestling Steve has been active in the communities of Deer Creek and Wadena. Steve served on the Wadena-Deer Creek School Board, from 2008 to 2016, and served as the board chairperson. He is an active member of the Deer Creek Lions, receiving the Melvin Jones Award.

He is active in his church and is a substitute teacher and bus driver at the Verndale School, driving the wrestling buses to their events.

Wrestling is not only part of Steve's life, but also his family's life. His wife of 53 years, Kathy, served as a scorekeeper for the team while his daughter, Lori, was also a scorekeeper and his daughter, Melissa (Lance Westerlund), was a wrestling cheerleader. Granddaughter, Olivia, was at a number of grandpa's wrestling matches, cheering him on.

Congratulations to 2021 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Minnesota Chapter honoree Steve Techam.